Clack Clack is Gone - It's Ugly!

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Shardy

Blew the drive when I ran over a large turtle, Lucky it was just the bike that got hurt. Was doing about 55. The car in front of me straddled it and I didn't have enough time to swerve. And, no, I wasn't tailgating.

This why I ride in the tire track of the car ahead of me.

[Shardy]

Originally Posted by Top Cat

This why I ride in the tire track of the car ahead of me.

Good idea. Never even thought of that although that's where I ride when it's raining.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Shardy

Blew the drive when I ran over a large turtle, Lucky it was just the bike that got hurt. Was doing about 55. The car in front of me straddled it and I didn't have enough time to swerve. And, no, I wasn't tailgating.

Sorry to hear about your problems and glad to hear you made it through unscathed.

However, with all due respect... if you cannot dodge something in the road due to a car ahead of you blocking your view... then you were riding too close to the car. While you might not be tailgating... you were still too close to the car. Just saying...

I have found myself in those situations on occasion where I am not thinking about the unexpected happening. Unfortunately, the unexpected does happen ever so often to remind us though. I have had my share of close calls too.

Again, glad you made it through without injury... and my deepest sympathy to the turtle and his family.

[Shardy]

Your analysis is dead on. The truth be known, it's impossible for anyone to continuously expect the unexpected. Wouldn't be much fun riding that way, although it would be safer. I think it gets down to experience and like TC says, good riding habits. Just saying.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Shardy

Your analysis is dead on. The truth be known, it's impossible for anyone to continuously expect the unexpected. Wouldn't be much fun riding that way, although it would be safer. I think it gets down to experience and like TC says, good riding habits. Just saying.

Thanks for taking what I was saying in the manner it was intended.

Even the best, most skilled will have moments when they were merely lucky the unexpected did not happen.

I know when riding with a couple buddies of mine, we try to take the secondary, twisty roads. In a conversation once, one guy stated we take chances on these roads where we cannot see over the hills or around the curves... so there is that moment of faith when you hope the unexpected doesn't happen.

[MAS Tequila]

Originally Posted by glwilson

Thanks for taking what I was saying in the manner it was intended.

Even the best, most skilled will have moments when they were merely lucky the unexpected did not happen.

I know when riding with a couple buddies of mine, we try to take the secondary, twisty roads. In a conversation once, one guy stated we take chances on these roads where we cannot see over the hills or around the curves... so there is that moment of faith when you hope the unexpected doesn't happen.

Blind curves and hilltops are one of the reason bikes have the ability to slow down.

I often wonder when seeing some charge into the unknown blindly and with no possible recourse.

Of course with advancing age comes the fact that it hurts more and takes longer to heal than it used to.

MT

[macmac]

And the next thing you know there is a MOOSE!

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

Blind curves and hilltops are one of the reason bikes have the ability to slow down.

I often wonder when seeing some charge into the unknown blindly and with no possible recourse.

Of course with advancing age comes the fact that it hurts more and takes longer to heal than it used to.

MT

Didn't want to give the impression we run these roads without caution, but there has been the occasional deer darting out from the woods you cannot see till it's too late. To that point we all run on some faith...

[Bamabrat]

In traffic the other day on my way home from work. 5 lane road (2 in both directions plus a turn lane in the middle). Someone pulled out into the turn lane to merge. Grandma a couple cars up from me thinks they are pulling in her lane. She locks up her brakes. The car in front of me locks up their brakes. BTW, I'm in the left lane. The lane to my right is bumper-to-bumper going 55-60 mph. I can't take the turn lane because of the car trying to merge. No way to swerve, so I have to brake...very quickly. I must have had a lead foot because i locked up my rear brake. Wasn't trying to. Just made a mistake. My front end was still going straight, but I could see my rear end swinging around to the right in my peripheral vision. From memory, my handlebars were at the 12:00 position and the rear tire around 4:00. Through some combination of luck, prayers, making a deposit in my chaps, etc., I worked the clutch, brake, and front tire perfectly and the bike straightened itself out, allowing me to stop about 8 inches from the car in front of me. I was almost a pancake and 2 cagers almost wrecked because some idiot had to get in the turn lane AT THIS MOMENT instead of waiting another 10 seconds when there was a 1/2 mile break in traffic. He got the finger from me for that one. I got caught not paying attention 100% and was very lucky. One second traffic is flowing and it's a beautiful day. Next second I'm expecting to superman over the car in front of me. Did I tell the wife? Not a chance.

[minst7877]

Originally Posted by Bamabrat

Did I tell the wife? Not a chance.

A lot of things are better untold.